Birthday celebrations

For those of you that didn't know it was my birthday on the 28th and my work lovely bunch that they are all took me for lunch at a place called El Hardines (the best Mexican food ever). There was great food, Sombrero's, tambourines and the old classic "Happy birthday" singing (it was the first time I've gone red). Then it was back to the office for cake (thanks Linda and Yola it was yum). I have to say I felt so spoiled and everyone was so sweet.

Thanks

(here are some pics)

Pics

This is me before a night out to say goodbye to my new friends Michele Shirly

Jail visit

Had another jail visit and this one was a lot more difficult then the first. Never have I had such an intense visit with anybody. I didn't think I was going to get to the nitty gritty of my clients (well Roberts client - sorry!) that soon but it just took a turning that way. It all happened so quickly I didnt even see it coming and then there were tears and I could see the pain in his face and in his heart. I tried my very best to keep my cool and I think that I handled the situation as best as I could. I left feeling completley emotionally drained and had my own little cry when I got outside.

I'm sorry but this world can be a cruel place, reminds me why I came here in the first place.

Lets try and be good to each and hope that it spreads - turning your back on people can sometimes be so easy we've all done it (including me), but lets try and do what we can to spread positivity and just be nice. I know this probably comes over very righteous and I dont mean to, its probably my knee jerk reaction to today.

I'll stop rambling now.

The saga continues

So let me think what has happened since my last entry? The weather has not been great at all, it's been rain, rain, rain and when I say rain I don't mean like England rain I mean like real rain. It didn't stop for two days straight and Houston does not cope with rain very well. You see Houston is flat so the water has no where to go (see Amber I listen when you talk) and the roads have major dips is them. It got so bad the other morning that although I could see the bus stop from the other side of the road there was physically no way that I could have got across the road without swimming (and I cant swim). So I had no other choice but to return to the flat and ask Amber to generously drop me off at the station. Then I had to go over to the courthouse so that was another 20 minute walk in the pouring monsoon and another 20 minutes back (I have never looked so attractive).

Finally today it stopped raining and the sun came out and it was great. Ohh I should say that the rain has led me to discover a way to walk from one building to another without actually having to go outside. Houston has a wierd tunnel system where you can building hop internally (it's bloody great I tell you).

Had the best cheesecake last night, Houston (and other states I'm sure) has a place called the Cheesecake factory and its the best in the world so for all the cheesecake lovers you really have to go (no Janale you dont have to go). The portions are Houston style massive and you are guaranteed to leave feeling completely sick (its the best).

Have joined a gym (sigh of relief) its great having a place to work out I go everyday (lets see how long that lasts) its two minutes from my building and closer to the bus stop so I really have no excuse not to go. The only problem is that it is the most pretentious place in the world a bunch of pretty people feeding each others egos (and then there is me), oh well its a place to work out and thats all I need.

Going for Mexican AGAIN tomorrow (wow I love Houston food) well thats for lunch and then its some of the interns going away thing after work, that should be cool.

I'll keep you posted

(well for those of you that can be bothered to read this blog)

Some pics

Right well here are some pics that I have been promising but they are nothing too fantastic. There are a couple of the marathon and then just some of my room in my flat.

Up date

So it's been a while, let's think...It was the marathon on Sunday and that was really cool. My room mate took part so naturally I went down there to cheer her on. If I'm honest I did'nt really think that I would see her considering that there were something like 1500 people taking part. However, after some careful timing I managed to place myself at Rice University just as she ran past all smiles and waves (and that was at the 10/11 mile mark).

Well done Amber good on you.

I then went down to the Museum of Fine arts with some of the other interns that I met working with Reprieve, and I have to say it really does live up to its name. It is art and it was fine (I kid-I'm just really bad at appreciating good art). Then we mosyed (spelt that wrong) down to this quaint little Cafe called "The Last Concert Cafe" where Michele plays her violin. That was really cool, it's a place where musicians just hang out and "Jam". I had a chance to meet some other girls that are also doing volunteer work.

After the 'jamming' session we pondered what to do next and came up with the idea of going to yet another quaint place for a beverage. Then came the munchies and it was a tough choice between the Cheescake factory or I-hop. We voted for I-hop. Anyone who knows Houston knows that nothing is close by and everything is a 10 minute drive away. So we buckle up in search for the closest I-hop, about 20 minutes down the line we find out the damn place is closed, so it was back to the girl's place for home made pancakes and chocolate (your gonna have to roll me onto the plane at this rate). If Houston does have something it is good eateries.

Yesterday was Martin Luther King day and I did have every intention to go downtown and see the parades. But in fairness to me it was also an opportunity to catch up on some sleep (I'll still jet lagged 2 weeks into my trip) and tidy and sort the pit I call my room.

Today I had another trip to the courthouse and got to meet one of the clients whose case I will be working on. That was something else. You walk through this door from a big bright courtroom into a room divided by a huge sheet of plastic and some seats. When you look through the glass (which is not clear glass oh no it's that misted glass) you see nothing but men in bright orange jump suits (about 15-20) all waiting in this small room wondering how and when it all started to go wrong, and how the hell did they end up here. I will admit I have never felt so useless then I did at that point in time.

Anyway then it was back to the office to finish up writing up my notes. It's early dismissal from the office today we have a weather warning, anyone who said Texas stays hot all the time are lying. The temp here is like 35 degree F (sorry don't know Celcius for the British out there) but I can tell you that, that is cold.

Till next time folks

Sadia

First Court visit

So today was my first time actually going into a US Criminal Court (County). I have to admit taking my shoes off to clear security is going to take some getting used to. The building is huge, and I needed to be on the 16th Floor so I joined the que forming outside the elavator (lift). I swear my ears popped on the way up (they still do everytime I go up and down to my office on the 20th Floor). I found the court that I needed to be in and creeped in, it wasnt in session at that point. It looks just like it does on all the American legal TV shows. It is so different to courts at home, (bearing in mind I have more experience of closed court) it still appeared to me as rather strange. There was no real order, people were just walking about, Lawyers sitting at the desks working away, couldn't really tell who had done what, bizarre...

So then anyway my lawyer spots me and beckons me to come through the gate and tells me that he is going to be delayed by 30 minutes and that it may be a good idea to just wander around the floor taking a look into other hearings. So thats exactly what I did.

The hearing that I did see was strange, the defendent was admitting to charges that the DA (District Attourney/CPS - for the Brits) had no evidence of. I don't think that he really understood what was going on which I have to admit surprised me as this was not his first time in court and his lawyer just stood there looking oblivious.

The clincher for me was when the judge made it clear that she did not beleive a word that he was saying and that she herself had seen him breach a term of him Supervision Order (Injunction - I think!) but can do nothing about it. I was baffled.

At that point my lawyer popped his head in so I had to leave, we went downstair for a coffee and to discuss what it was that I would be doing.

My work is going to be fairly varied, my lawyer wants me to try and get everything I can out of this internship (great guy). It seems like I'm gonna have a fair bit of responisibility, which is great I just hope that I can rise to the challenge coz at the moment its all a bit over my head. I'm trying to keep track of like 5 cases and the terminology is slightly different to that of home.

So now I'm in the office with a 15 page report and some evidence summary as well as another report and I've gotta try and make sense of it all, yeah I can see you now - Good Luck!!!!!!!!

With regards to outside work, still taking time to get used to the place, and my body clock still not fully adjusted. Although I have met some other interns who work up the road for the Texas Defenders Service and will hopefully meet some from Grace Law (another organisation that does similar work), it's a relief to know that there are more of us out here.

The Houston Marathon is on Sunday and my room mate is participating so I am going to go down there to cheer her on, that should be really cool, I havn't even been to the London Marathon.

Well I think that's all for now, will keep you posted

(still havn't figured out how to upload pics yet, but I will.

Sadia

Entry number 1

Well, I'm here and have only just been able to get any real access to the internet in order to update my blog.

So Houston what can I say? I flew in on Wednesday the 3rd January with my friend Jay at a stupid a clock (that's midnight btw). We were very lucky that my roommate knew someone that had offered to pick us up from the airport and take us back to the apartment (flat). I was very very tired and not really with it so everything was just so surreal. All I couold think was "how the hell am I going to drive on this roads, they are huge with cars coming from all different directions and no real signs telling you anything". Not to mention the fact that the cars are all HUGE and they drive on the wrong damn side of the road (yes the right side).

Anyway Clarke (that's his name) was a star, he came back the next morning and offered to take us around and help me do all the chores that needed to be done i.e opening an account, grocery shopping (food shop). However, I wasn't in the greatest of health (all self inflicted) so about half way through I nearly passed out and it was at that time maybe it is better to go home and rest a bit (with a bottle of pepto bismal).

Houston is very different to home, it is much bigger and there are less people on the streets, most are in their cars. Oh speaking of car - funny story. So I was trying to gear myself up to driving in this city (it was causing many a sleepless night and my anxiety levels hit the roof) but I thought I have to do it. So I bit the bullet called up the first car dealer and asked for their cheapest car. I found a Buick (yes a Buick) drove it around the block and signed the papers. It was only after I got home had my third panic attack that I chickened out and told him I didnt want it. Thankfully for me he said that he wouold let me off the hook (even though I had signed the papers).

So I'm back being car less. But you know the public transport isnt so bad the bus stops right outside my flat and takes me right into work. The only thing is it doesnt really go anywhere else. I think what I am going to do is give it a while and then just rent one as and when I need to.

It was my first day at work yesterday, I had a chance to see the courthouse, different to ours. A lot more modern and the que to get in was going outside the door. The strangest thing was having to take my shoes off for security purposes (what must they have thought I dread to think?). I then took a trip over to my new office for the next six months and I can tell you I lucked out. It's a tall glass building and I am on the 20th Floor with my own office and beautiful view (I will have pics soon). I met Annie the receptionist, Diana and Betty who have helped me settle in, Ray the IT guy (who i've bugged and bugged about my net access) and a few other people who's names escape me.

I won't lie I have been really really homesick and it is taking me longer to settle in then I thought it would (I've been calling home continuously crying down the phone). Today has been much better feeling more alive and on top of things, just needed to give myself a kick up the jacksie I think.

Anyway should get back to work have got three files sitting next to me that need sorting through and understanding (yes I know what your thinking Good luck! Well I'm gonna need it.

Until next time folks


Sadia